236 BULLETIN 133, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



LEPIDOCOLAPTES ANGUSTIROSTRIS ANGUSTIROSTRIS (Vieillot) 



Dendrocopus angustirostris Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 26. 1818, 

 p. 116. (Paraguay.) 



An adult male shot at Resistencia, Chaco, on July 10, 1920, and 

 an immature female taken at Las Palmas, Chaco, July 13, are sup- 

 posed to represent the typical form of the present species. These 

 two have the undersurface definitely but not heavily streaked and 

 give the following measurements for wing and culmen : Male, wing, 

 98.2 ; culmen from base, 32.7 ; female, wing, 92.3 ; culmen from base, 

 31 mm. Two males secured at Tapia, Tucuman, on April 9 and 11, 

 1921, have the streaks on the ventral surface blacker and much 

 heavier, and are referred to this form with reservation as it is 

 probable that they represent a distinct subspecies. The specimens 

 in question (in molt) have the following measurements: Wing, 94.4 

 and 99.6 mm. ; culmen from base, 34 and 35.7 mm. In coloration of 

 the dorsal surface they are rather close to the birds from Chaco. 



At Resistencia, Chaco, this bird was recorded only on July 10, 

 1920, when a male was taken. Near Las Palmas, where forests were 

 more extensive, they were found in fair numbers from July 13 to 31, 

 while near the Riacho Pilaga they were recorded on August 11 and 

 18. No specimens were taken here, and it is possible that the birds 

 noted were L. a. ceHhiolus found in the Paraguayan Chaco. At 

 Tapia, Tucuman, they were fairly common from April 7 to 13. 



This wood hewer in the Chaco frequented the heavier growths of 

 timber that grew in swampy localities, where it ranged in pairs that 

 frequently joined company with little traveling bands of other 

 brush and forest hunting birds, and accompanied them on their 

 rounds in search for food. The flight of the bird under discussion 

 is undulating, and is seldom continued for any long distance. They 

 alight on a tree trunk, to which they cling with sharp claws and 

 firmly braced tail, and begin immediately to hitch upward, often 

 assisting their progress by a rapid flit of the wing. They continue 

 up the trimk and over the larger branches and then fly to another 

 tree or drop to the base of the trunk they have just examined and 

 cover the ground once more. Their long bills were frequently thrust 

 into the recesses of small air plants, or under moss and loose bark, 

 which was pried away with a quick twist of the head to. expose any 

 animal life concealed beneath. The call notes of the present species 

 in all its forms are loud and musical. 



The tongue is small and undeveloped in proportion to the size 

 of the bill, in contrast to what is found in such long-billed groups 

 as humming birds, honey creepers, and honey eaters. 



